what is the easiest newb friendly meshing program ?
(i have lithunwrap but dont have a clue how to use it)

please dont say google it
:o :p

First off, it's called UV mapping, so if you were to search for it, you should use that term instead of the incorrect "meshing."

The simple fact is that UV mapping is not an easy process, it has a steep learning curve, and there are very few easily available programs dedicated soley to the process. When I make a UV map, the only tools I really need are planar map, and occasionally cylindrical map and a few other tools like cut and sew UV. Other than that it's pure uv manipulation, move rotate and scale to get what I want.

Of course, in the interest of helping you and anyone else interested in this very necessary, and oft overlooked part of modeling, I have compiled a list of tools and tutorials that you may find useful. I haven't read through all of these, and they are often specific to a certain program, but there is much general and specific info you can get from some of the these tutorials.

Tutorials:
http://www.learning-maya.com/texturing.php
http://www.newtek.com/products/lightwave/tutorials/surface/uv_mapping/advanced_uv_mapping.html
http://www.newtek.com/products/lightwave/tutorials/games/uv_mapping/
http://www.planetdungeonsiege.com/dungeoneers/modeling/uvwmapping/
http://www.delaflor.com/uvtutorial.html
http://waylon-art.com/uvw_tutorial/uvwtut_01.html
http://www.eliteops.com/sama/uv_tutorial/
http://www3.sk.sympatico.ca/kelbeau/max2ued/html/uvw.html

Programs:
http://www.uvmapper.com/
http://www.righthemisphere.com/products/duv/
http://www.unwrap3d.com/
http://www.discreet.com/products/gmax/
http://www.alias.com/eng/products-services/maya/maya_ple/index.shtml
http://zmodeler.nfscheats.com/
http://www.amabilis.com/


That's all for now, I'll get something more complrehensive together later.

http://www.wunderboy.org/tutorials/half-life-primer.php

Theres a link to a whole tutorial on using LithUnWrap at the bottom.

- Jed

I use Lightwave to build and UV map, it has all the tools you need and is far easier to pickup then any other program i've ever tried, although i've never tried MAX3d which i hear is good aswell.

If you do end up with lightwave, search around the net, and theres many tuts on UV mapping for lightwave, and if you search around, you can find free plugins, that also help with the UV mapping and saving UV maps out as BMP files etc.

Good luck...:).

Your going to need to do alot of reading to get a good understanding of UV mapping, but it's worth it in the end, as good UV mapping is an art in it's self.

thanxs guys :)

about how much is lightwave? im an abstract graphics designer, so i already own 3DSMAX6...

Originally posted by DreadLord2
about how much is lightwave? im an abstract graphics designer, so i already own 3DSMAX6...

http://www.newtek.com/buynow/lw_products.html

http://www.nuclear-dawn.net/ank/ank-uv-video.zip

Video tutorial by Ankalar. This is just one of the many methods of skinmapping.